many aeons ago, there was a thread on here about making bread .... it died, perhaps because man shall not live by bread alone ..... anyway, there seem to be a fair number of people on this site who enjoy cooking, so i thought to start a thread for recipes and associated topics.

i'm assuredly no expert, but i reckon i cook tolerably well, and i know that any recipe i paste here, genuinely works - even for those who can only shop from supermarkets!

a starter recipe follows ......

Okay I will take heed on that and feed and water them regularly. Roll on new spud time, I believe they have to be planted no later than Good Friday.

you certainly need to be chitting them now, but each variety technically has a slightly different planting time

They are sitting nicely on a window ledge upstairs getting plenty of light. These need to go in by Good Friday so they told me when I bought them.

anywhere you can put them outside where it's dry, but cooler and frost-free?
on the windowsill, you may find the shoots get very leggy and weak .... Good Friday in 18th April this year

That's some good advice from Percy Thrower. :-))

Fact sheet, may help 3m. Grown some lovely potatoes on the patio before. Also there is a sense of achievement. I think you will enjoy growing them 3m. What next an allotment? :-))

http://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/factsheets/gg9.php

The SPUDS have now been removed from the windowsill - thanks for letting me know Good Friday is 18th April this year, I honestly had not got a clue, hopefully they will go in by the end of March.

dc - an allotment is not what I need, I have nearly 1 acre but it is not designed for a vegetable plot as such, funnily enough I was only thinking about destroying one of the small lawns and growing veg. as I can't bend down too well to ground level with arthritis etc., I thought again. I am better doing things the way I find easiest but still enjoy the fresh air and fun. Carrots are going in next. Everyone thinks I am nuts - maybe they are correct, I get satisfaction out of growing and watching things grow, more challenging and more satisfying than dam house work. Cheers, not had a drink for 3 weeks so having a glass of wine.

Good for you 3m. Very rewarding and you sound to be a good/knowledgeable cook, that can turn your produce into something nice. All round 3m's for tea. That's when the spuds have grown. lol.

3m - perhaps also think about raised beds if you have trouble bending down .... there should be a lot info about these on line ......

don't have too rich soil for carrots as that tends to deform them ..... seed packets always tell you to thin them, but i reckon that's too much fag, so i thin as i eat

swiss chard may appeal as it's very ornamental as well as being a very tasty vegetable and easy to grow ..... it's also often perennial if the winter isn't too harsh

lettuces are also a no-brainer, as there are all sorts of colours, shapes and textures ..... if you plant 3/4 seeds in little pots, you can then weed out all but the one strongest, grow it on, and then plant it out pronto, being careful not to disturb the root system

You are all very welcome anytime, not all at once though!! Food shopping, Cooking and messing around outside suits me fine - I used to read cookery books where others would read novels - so you see I know I am nuts. I am not very good at growing tomatoes, so turning my hand to the new venture - spuds. Every cloud has a silver lining. Nite all and thank you once again.

Who can make the best pancake ie tart it up a bit with a bit of garnish on etc etc. Photos appreciated.

From the argue thread........

Now lads your forgetting what day it is today...........shrove tuesday or pancake day.

I propose we move over to cyners thread on cooking and I will personaly offer a virtual pint of stella to the best recipe on how to make a pancake.

I know Fred and Hays like cooking aswel.

And a few others.

So ready steady cook.

basic pancake mix is simple .....
4oz flour + 2 eggs + 1/2 pint of milk
adding the milk gradually, beat together with a wooden spoon until smooth and lump free

the next bit depends on how you like your pancakes.
if you want them very thin, then add perhaps 3 fl.oz to 7 fl.oz of milk
if you want to make them in advance, add a tbsp of oil to the mix - it'll help keep them supple

the important bit is to have a good heavy frying pan - pref black iron, well-seasoned, as that will stop the pancakes sticking.
to cook the pancakes, the pan must be really hot (how hot is that?), and then you smear a smidge (a well known quantity!) of melted butter, round the pan.
add just enough mix so that when swirling the pan, it just covers the base.
cook for perhaps 30/45 seconds - it depends on the consistency of your mix - and then turn the pancake over for perhaps another 30 seconds
the first one or two pancakes may stick and need binning, but thereafter, it should be a breeze

you can put all sorts of things in pancakes, but a fave of mine is
full fat cream cheese mixed up with some finely chopped stem syrup and its syrup
it's at its best the following day, but a little in advance will help the flavours blend.
put a dollop of that in the pancake, then some raspberries, then a little caster sugar
a little different from the norm and very yummy!


free "wifebeater" nor required :-)

Ahhhhh but you havent had a toss.

Points deducted for that Cyners you should always toss a pancake.

i prefer to keep mine in the pan rather than pick the damn thing off the floor .... and i defy you to toss and toss at the same time!

I'm a tosser cynic...... not stuck it to ceiling yet! Same mix as cyners with the addition of sultanas for that fruity taste.,.

I like mine with sugar and lemon juice but as I am trying to shed a few pounds I will do without this year - yes sad, very sad. No comments on tossing!!!!!!

BB - sounds more like a thicker drop scone or scotch pancake

Wouldn't fancy tossing yours........... and far too heavy for the likes of pancake day, should be light and fluffy, crispy around the edges. Light sprinkling of sugar, then rolled up and cut into strips and enjoy.,.